Myrtle is Home!!

Andrea · Senior Member

RE: Myrtle is Home!!

Beth54 · Guru

petengail wrote:

Pejay beat me to it.... Purple wheel cover? Your choice of course but for me it would have to go lol... but on second thoughts and thanks to the edit function,,, You could christen her Purple Myrtle lol

-- Edited by petengail on Friday 18th of March 2011 10:08:28 AM

You beat me to it petengail! I was thinking Purple Myrtle is a good name!

Well done Marj. You deserve some very ahppy travels now after all that stress. Hope to catch up with you on your way through. I'm not going til June now.

gillyb · Senior Member

Congratulations Marj you must be so excited. Hopefully will meet you on the way to Qld, I'm heading off on Sunday so may see you soon smile

Pam · Guru

Glad your wait is finally over. Hope you enjoy many happy hours in her. safe travels.

Happywanderer · The Master

Thank you to all with your best wishes, very exciting to come on here and find we are already at page two.
To answer some questions, she was already christened Purple Myrtle in another thread, so it will probably stick although daughter says Myrtle the Turtle knowing how slow I MIGHT go.
Also Milo, How does it feel to drive?? Scared witless when I first go out there, stomach tied up in knots, nervous as h..l. Even went from 1st gear to 4th yesterday missing out everything in between. Its a column change so a little harder to get used to. Took a few attempts to get out of my park this morning, so have left her out on the road as have to go out again.

Some interesting news today, found out Myrtle has been a one owner from new before me.

Went to the canvas repair man this mornig as there is a small tear in the canvas poptop bit. He knew the van, knows the previous owner and had replaced the canvas only 3 or 4 years ago. Said looks like owner hasn't used it much since as his chalk marks are still on there. Also said he is sure previous owner didn't do that tear, its right where the hook comes over when its down to hold it down in the other hook. He wondered if it had been done in the car sales yard. Its a very new tear.

He said previous owner bought it new and has looked after it well, that is why the mileage is only at 190,000. He never went on too many long trips over the years and looked after it well. I'm so pleased to hear that. Means it hasn't been mistreated or given a hard time in all its years.

Happywanderer · The Master

Just realised when in the Fuel Prices thread I did my first interstate trip in Myrtle today.
I went over to Moama to get fuel.

milo · Guru

you could call it Myrtle the purple turtle ...
oh and please dont do any of this to her...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CUsphHnwJY&feature=related

-- Edited by milo on Friday 18th of March 2011 01:38:24 PM

Happywanderer · The Master

No way milo. I will be sticking to the roads.

Beth54 · Guru

milo wrote:

you could call it Myrtle the purple turtle ...
oh and please dont do any of this to her...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CUsphHnwJY&feature=related

-- Edited by milo on Friday 18th of March 2011 01:38:24 PM

I'd love to have a 4WD van! Not that I'd go looking for trouble, but it'd certainly get you out of a slippery situation.

If I'd had that at Jondaryan, I could've got myself out, instead of having someone tow me out.

Sheba · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:

To answer some questions, she was already christened Purple Myrtle in another thread, so it will probably stick although daughter says Myrtle the Turtle knowing how slow I MIGHT go.

Marj, would you believe the previous owners' of mine put a [Royal Blue, not Purple] Turtle on the back of it. Haven't taken it off yet. You're welcome to it if you want it. It's a Decal about 5 1/2 inches across. Looks like it will be easy to take off. Pics. will give you an idea of size.

Some interesting news today, found out Myrtle has been a one owner from new before me.

He said previous owner bought it new and has looked after it well, that is why the mileage is only at 190,000. He never went on too many long trips over the years and looked after it well. I'm so pleased to hear that. Means it hasn't been mistreated or given a hard time in all its years.

That will be why she looked so good in the initial Pics. That's reallly good news Marj. So glad you got a good one.

Cheers,
Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Friday 18th of March 2011 03:59:34 PM

robell · Senior Member

go hw, bet you can't wait to hit the road. enjoy, cheers, rob

capt cream bun · Senior Member

Congratulation...I have been following your posts with a lot of interest and i am glad its all finally done and worked out so well. Lucky you!

Patrain · Newbie

Hi Happywander - this is my first post - don't forget to visit the Geelong Highland Games in Geelong on the 20th

Pejay · Guru

Then again Petengail, Marj could get herself a little travelling companion - a little fluffy toy purple turtle, and call it Myrtle!! Sorry Marj, couldn't resist!

DillyDallyingAround · Veteran Member

petengail wrote:

Pejay beat me to it.... Purple wheel cover? Your choice of course but for me it would have to go lol... but on second thoughts and thanks to the edit function,,, You could christen her Purple Myrtle lol

-- Edited by petengail on Friday 18th of March 2011 10:08:28 AM

Hey you guys the purple wheel cover sound marvellous, I love purple, i want some too.

-- Edited by DillyDallyingAround on Friday 18th of March 2011 08:43:07 PM

DillyDallyingAround · Veteran Member

Way to go Marj .... there will be no stopping you now.

Happywanderer · The Master

Dilly, the purple wheel covers are at Supercheap Auto 6.00, are cloth to stop the hot steering wheel burning my hands in the heat.

Sorry Sheba the blue would clash with my purple. I've got a new Nanna with Attitude sticker in purple to go on and have ordered a purple glitter set of Southern Cross stars, should be here any day.
And of course the Grey Nomads sticker has to go on as well.

Myrtle is having her first night away from home without me. She's at Daughter and S. in. L's for the night having her wiring all redone. Took her over to get the radio put in this arvo only to find a mish mash of wiring under the dash that would make an electrician go cold. It did. A lot of swearing from S. in. L as he cut out so many unconnected but twisted wiring including a melted one that could have caused a fire.
He said very obvious that previous owner did all his own work and a lot of it.
Its a lot bigger job than was first thought so he will be busy tomorrow too.
Had an interesting night testing wires, pushing buttons, pulling out bits that don't work etc.
Myrtle will be like new by the time all this done.

milo · Guru

sounds like it'll be great when sorted out..

i used to have a 1970 xy falcon, like the phase 3's , but not done up like them
one day caught fire under the dash, had to replace all the wireing..yuk..
but once done it was better and safer..

Happywanderer · The Master

Yep, thats what I'm thinking too milo. Will be better and safer and can travel with confidence.

Happywanderer · The Master

New radio in, dash fan attached and connected, cb radio set back in properly, all working well. Isolater kit all fitted so automatic change over of batteries so I don't have to turn them on and off.
There is 4 cig lighter connections in the back of the van, not one of them works, will try and get at least one of them working. My bedroom TV works with the aerial we found in van.
Drained the water tank and will flush that tomorrow. Steering wheel cover too small so will take it back for a refund. S in L been working on it all day and a few hours last night after work so giving him a break tomorrow. Will take it for a bit of a drive tomorrow then mend the small tear in the canvas, that will keep me busy all day.

Slowly getting it all together. Have packed a few things in the kitchen cupboards, Hard to know just how much will be needed and just how much food to pack as not a lot of room by the time I pack in things like buckets and other things of a bulky nature that will be needed while away.
Am taking out the 2nd fridge, S in L said very old and doesn't think it will be any good as a freezer so will just use the normal fridge.
Also throwing out the 2 old metal petrol cans on the back, they are so had it, all bent and buckled. Not sure how I get rid of them, one has a bit of petrol left in it. Maybe I should take them out to the tip on Monday, they should know how to dispose of them.
The same with the fire extinguisher that was in there. A yellow one. S in L said it is illegal so have taken that out too so will have to dispose of that too.
Any suggestions??

-- Edited by Happywanderer on Saturday 19th of March 2011 07:51:20 PM

Esmeralda · Guru

Congratulations!!! I have been folowing this thread with interest. Love the name.

Cheers

May · Member

well done HW got your van hope I can say the same next week. I'm looking at a silver toyota hiace. Be great to meet on the road one day. You have all inspired me greatly.

Firefly · Guru

Marj take the fire extinguisher to your local fire station, they should be able to get that taken care of for you. smile

blaze · Guru

Old fire extinsher to the local fire station
cheers
blaze

blaze · Guru

Firefly wrote:

Marj take the fire extinguisher to your local fire station, they should be able to get that taken care of for you.

10 minutes to slow
cheers
blaze

Firefly · Guru

Great minds Blaze. wink

GrumpyOne · Senior Member

Hey HW,

Sorry I'm a bit behnd the times here but congrats on Myrtle being home.....happy travells, I take a paint pen with me when I go away, and anything I use I tag with the paint pen, if after a couple of trips I haven't used things they will get the old heave-ho.

Also if I need to buy something while I am away I tag it so I know it was needed and used. It's also a great way to identify your stuff when your in a busy camp kitchen with backpackers and other travellers with similar items.

Hoo Roo Happy Days
Grumpster

Firefly · Guru

Thats an excellent idea Grumps. I get home and can't remember what I used and what I didn't so re pack once again. I will be doing that from now on though. smile

Happywanderer · The Master

Thanks guys, two good suggestions there. Will take old extinguisher to the fire station and get a paint pen for marking.

Sheba · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:

Sorry Sheba the blue would clash with my purple. I've got a new Nanna with Attitude sticker in purple to go on and have ordered a purple glitter set of Southern Cross stars, should be here any day.
And of course the Grey Nomads sticker has to go on as well.

No worries Marj. I thought you might have been able to re-paint it Purple. I've got the "Outrageous Older Woman" sticker too.

Cheers,
Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Sunday 20th of March 2011 03:30:28 PM